Is This Player's Dream Finally Coming to an End?

With the 2012 MLS Combine & SuperDraft lurking just around the corner, some of the guys at the office were reminiscing about one of the more memorable parts of the drafts in the past. That being the speech given by my brother in 2009. Jason Saghini, the brain behind the production of the Rookie Life Series, told me yesterday that the main reason he selected Richard for the show was because of his speech. Most of the draftees featured in the program (found on MLSSoccer.com) consists of 1st and 2nd round selections. As most of you know already, Richard Jata was selected 58th overall, out of a possible 60. Go to the 3:54 mark in the video clip below to see the speech again. It's a moment that will stick with me for the rest of my life and I'm truly grateful MLS released it for all of us to see.



I remember the 2009 SuperDraft as if it were yesterday. Names of former teammates and friends of Richard's were getting picked over him left and right. Its as if his journey to IMG Academy and time with the PDL team in high school didn't amount for anything. Its as if his "nearly full ride" to Furman didn't mean anything - same recruiting class as Jonathan Leathers and Shea Salinas. Its as if turning down the 50% offer by Wake Forest (all they could do at the time due to funding) meant nothing. Its as if his game-winners in Campbell's 3 consecutive victories (2007-2009) over UNC got lost in the other, more important scores. Richard's decision to accept a full ride to Campbell University might have been a poor decision in terms of exposure, but in essence, it might just end up leading him to his future wife.

Its a shame to see such a talented and dedicated individual like Richard get wiped away from the game he gave his life too. Some may say it happens all the time - and I might agree to some extent, but this is different.  I saw the sacrifices he endured growing up as a teenager. He left home and all of his friends to go to IMG Academy as a sophomore in high school. He practiced hours upon hours all by himself while his friends were out partying and living it up. He was a 15-year old kid on a mission and nothing was going to get in his way.

After finishing the 2011 season with the newly refurbished Wilmington Hammerheads squad of the USLPRO, Richard is finding it harder and harder to support himself and his future decisions without a steady job. He realizes that if he wants to take the next step with his longtime girlfriend, Ashley Smith, he's going to have to give up on his lifelong dream of becoming a professional soccer player and start looking for that 9 to 5. Unfortunately, for a college graduate with little experience on his resume other than a long list of awards and accolades contributed mainly to soccer, its tougher than you might think. Seen in the image on the right, Richard has had to pickup a holiday season stint with UPS just keep up with his bills, while he continues to look for a full-time job with benefits.

Richard's professional career may have been brief, but he certainly made an "Impact"!?! After spending the entire 2009 preseason with the Chicago Fire, Denis Hamlett decided to release him in favor of a developmental player who spent the previous season with the team.  The trails in France were also brief and the language barriers were nearly impossible to breach. After talking to people during the teams visit to FC New York in 2011, I can see why he doesn't want to return for the 2012 season either. The pay is horrible and the coaching is nothing to be desired. Young players need to be encouraged at times and if there's a lack of mutual respect from both parties, the relationship between player and coach will not succeed.

I ask myself this question all the time, Why were the Soccer Gods so good to Richard in high school and college - blessing him with knowledgeable coaches who exuded guidance and direction - but so cruel to him at the professional level, where a coach can be the most influential person in your life? I can only imagine what a coach like Sigi Schmid or Peter Nowak could've done with Richard had they been given the chance.

This year I turned 28, and on my birthday I received a package in the mail from North Carolina, where Richard currently resides. As I walked to my room to open my gift, so many things popped into my head. What could it be? Seconds after ripping off the wrapping paper I realized what it was. There in front of me was the only professional game-worn jersey my brother will ever wear. Along with the gift was a card that read this, "Ben,...I wanted you to have the only official Jata #9 jersey from my first pro season in the USL. I want you to know that I have only achieved my success in soccer because I had a close brother helping me all these years. You inspired me to be great so here is a thank you gift for helping me! I love you!" - Richard

So now that the story of "Richard Jata - The Soccer Player" finally comes to an end and "Richard Jata - The Family Man" starts its journey, there's one person I want to send a special thanks to:

To my younger brother, Richard Jata, YOU have truly inspired me to do great things. I look up to you for what you have accomplished and I will cherish all the moments we spent together playing soccer growing up. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the joy of following you on your journey through all the ups and downs. Its truly been an amazing ride. Without your enduring passion for the game and monumental success at the college level, I'd have nothing to write about.  Your professional career may end with a one-year stint at a club some people would never give the time of day to go see, but I did and I'm extremely grateful I got to witness it. My contributions to your career may seem insignificant to some, but at least I know they meant a lot to you. Love Ya Bro!

Here's a few brief videos from over the years that I never get tired of watching...

No Glory Tonight...Hammerheads Lose 5-4 in PK Shootout!

With their star center midfielder, Luke Mulholland out with a Hamstring injury, Wilmington would have to look elsewhere if they were going to get past a strong Richmond team. Right from the get go the Hammerheads pushed the attack, controlling possession for the first 20 minutes of the game. The first scoring opportunity of the game came when Andriy Budnyy took on a few Richmond defenders and blasted a left-footed shot from just inside the box on the left side, but the Kickers goalkeeper made a great diving save to keep it level.

Richmond looked uncomfortable for the majority of the first half, sending several passes out of bounds.  However, a couple Hammerheads fouls deep in their own half opened the door for the Kickers to capitalize. Fortunately, both free kick attempts were blocked.

Wilmington controlled possession for the remainder of the half, but couldn't get anything going offensively.  The long balls weren't doing anything as Richmond played more defensively as the half progressed. Going into halftime the score remained 0-0.

#5 for the Richmond Kickers was yellow carded in the 47th minute for throwing an elbow on Tanner Wolfe deep in the Hammerheads territory. Moments later Paul Nicholson was cautioned as well for a double leg tackle in Richmond's defensive half.

Tanner Wolfe's header from the top of the box in the 52nd minute off a cross from Dylan Riley sailed wide of the net. Tom Parrat's shot from distance in the 57th minute also sailed high after a great build up by the Hammerheads. Moments later Garreth Evans went down after colliding heads with a Richmond player. Evans remained down for several minutes before coming out on his own will. The Hammerheads played with 10 men for the next few minutes until Evans returned with a fresh new jersey(#20) and a bandage around his head.

Richmond had a 3 on 2 break in the 70th minute but the shot was blocked and cleared by Dylan Riley. The Kickers found the back of the net in the first half and again in the second half, but fortunately for the Hammerheads, both were called back due to fouls in the box.

Richard Jata and Andres Cuero were subbed in for Tanner Wolfe and Jack Avesyon in the 73rd minute of play.

The best chance by either side came in the 90th minute when E. Elcock weaved his way through the Hammerheads defense, but a huge save by Brock Duckworth kept the scored tied nil-nil. It had to be the save of the night! A few last ditch efforts were made by Richmond, but the Hammerheads snuffed them out.  Now we head to extra time.

Wow! A huge save by Brock Duckworth right out the gates to keep the score tied. The Hammerheads had a great opportunity off a Chris Bagley throw-in in the 93rd minute that was headed just over the crossbar.

Tom Parrat was cautioned in the 99th minute for dissent. A few minutes later, #23 for Richmond was cautioned for a hard foul on Richard Jata near midfield. At the end of the first overtime period, the Richmond Kickers had more opportunities, but Wilmington maintained the majority of the possession.

Chris Murray came on for Manny Guzman in the second overtime period due to leg cramps. Diego Barrera checked in for Paul Nicholson a few minutes before the end of the second overtime period.

The Hammerheads were awarded a free kick just outside the box with no time remaining in the second overtime period. I thought Richard Jata was going to win the game with one his spectacular free kicks, but Andriy Budnyy took it instead, sending his team's final attempt in the second overtime straight into the wall.

With the entire Wilmington midfield already subbed out and Chris Banks replaced by Chris Bagley, it was all in the hands of the subs and Brock Duckworth to advance to the semifinals.

Penalty Shootout

Richmond would kick first to start the shootout...

(1-1) - Andriy Budnyy places his attempt to the left side and in
(2-2) - Richard Jata drills his attempt towards the left post and in
(3-3) - Diego Barrera puts his attempt in the side netting just inside the right post
(4-4) - Andres Cuero's attempt is stopped initially by the keeper, but trickles just inside the left post and in to keep it tied at 4 a piece going into the final kick.
(5-4) - Chris Bagley shoots to the right side, but the Richmond keeper gets a hand on it before it bounces off the inside of the post. The goalie gets up and dives to save it on its way back across the net.

The Richmond Kickers win on penalty kicks (5-4) and advance to the American Division Semifinals

USL PRO Playoff Preview - Hammerheads vs. Kickers

The Wilmington Hammerheads closed out the 2010 regular season with a 2-1 victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions Saturday night.  With it they clinched home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs which begins Friday night. Jack Avesyon and Chris Banks scored for Wilmington with Andryi Budnyy getting the assist on both of the goals.

The Hammerheads finished the season 14-7-3 which was good enough to lock up 2nd place in the American Division. The team scored a league-leading 42 goals, but let in 30, which was the second most allowed in their division. They went 9-3-0 at home, scoring 25 and allowing 15.  They went 5-4-3 away from home, scoring 15 and allowing 15.

This is how the seeding and match-ups will look for the First Round of the playoffs:

USL PRO DIVISIONAL SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE

Friday, August 19, 2011

AMERICAN DIVISION

#3 Richmond Kickers at #2 Wilmington Hammerheads, 7:30 p.m., Legion Stadium

NATIONAL DIVISION

#4 Pittsburgh Riverhounds at #1 Rochester Rhinos, 7:30 p.m., Sahlen’s Stadium

#3 Los Angeles Blues at #2 Harrisburg City Islanders, 7:30 p.m., Skyline Sports Complex

Saturday, August 20, 2011

AMERICAN DIVISION

#4 Charleston Battery at #1 Orlando City, 7:30 p.m., Florida Citrus Bowl
  

The Richmond Kickers have been victorious in both of their previous matches against the Hammerheads with their most recent victory coming at Legion Stadium on August 10th. They have a solid finisher up top in Matthew "Deli" Delicâte, who's been in the league since 2004. He leads Richmond with 23 points on 10 goals and 3 assists. At 6'3" and 190 lbs. "Deli" is a threat both in the air and with the ball at his feet. Wilmington will have to set the tone early and really keep an eye on him in order to limit his chances.

The Kickers finished the 2010 season with 41 points and a record of 12-7-5.  They scored 35 goals, which was the third most in their division and let in just 21 goals, which was the second least in their division. They went 8-3-1 at home, scoring just 20 times, but allowing only 11.  Surprisingly, the team actually allowed less goals away from home(10), but scored less as well, notching 15 goals and finishing the season with a record of 4-4-4.

Keys to Success for the Wilmington Hammerheads

The concern for this Friday's upcoming match is the health of Wilmington midfielder, and the teams' leading goal scorer, Luke Mulholland, who left Saturday's game in the 31st minute with a nagging hamstring injury. Mulholland could be in better shape as we inch closer to game time, but I highly doubt he'll be at 100%. Midfielder Manny Guzman also left the match early, but should be okay to play.

Tanner Wolfe got the start against Dayton so it's quite possible he'll be in a similar role on Friday.  Richard Jata was subbed in for Guzman at halftime so you could see him get some increased playing time if Luke and Manny are late scratches. Both players have come a long way this season and I'm sure they'll be ready for the challenge that lies ahead. Either way you look at it, the Hammerheads will have to do something different than what they've done in the past if they expect to make it past the first round.

If Wilmington makes it past the first round they will face the winner of the Charleston Battery vs. Orlando City matchup. If the Charleston Battery win, the Hammerheads will get to play their second round match at home, but if Orlando City wins the team will have to travel to Florida for the weekend of the 27th.

Hammerheads Inch Closer and Closer to First Place in the American Division with a Dominating Show on the Road

Shortly after arriving at St. Johns University(Belson Stadium) for the FCNY vs. Wilmington Hammerheads game, the rain started coming down.  Roughly an hour before kickoff it was nothing but a cloudy haze, then lightning struck and the teams were sent to the locker room until further notice.

After the 30-40 minute delay and puddle sweeping in one specific corner of the field on the teams' sideline, play was resumed.  The rain had stopped and the field had dried, but during the National Anthem things got a little out of hand.  A torrential downpour followed for the next 10-15 minutes until the referee blew his whistle at the 10:09 mark and asked Brock Duckworth for the ball.

Both teams were once again sent to their locker rooms and play was postponed. Shortly after the rain had stopped the teams made their way back onto the field.  The game was almost called off due to extreme flooding on certain parts of the fields, but out of nowhere the field dried up and FCNY personnel took care of the excessively flooded areas.

I was extremely impressed with the FCNY staff and they really helped this game get done. Both teams are set to travel to away matches this weekend and a rematch was something everyone wanted to avoid.  After starring at puddles on the field get bigger and bigger, once the rain stopped, I was amazed to see that this turf dried faster than any field I've ever seen before.  One spot on the pitch was flooded, but at one point the whole field was flooded and sure enough it dried up and the game was back on.

The game was resumed finally at the 10:09 mark and Wilmington wasted little time getting on the board. Andriy Budnyy chipped the keeper ever so eloquently in the 29th minute giving the Hammerheads a 1-0 lead.  The game would remain that way going into halftime.

With the rain gone and the field in better condition, other than a few moments, the second half was utter domination.  The Hammerheads put consistent waves of pressure on FC New York, and in the 52nd minute Luke Mulholland got his goal, putting his team up 2-0.

In the 55th minute Gareth Evans blocked a shot attempt on goal with his hand and the referee wasted little time awarding a penalty kick for FCNY.  Evans was issued a yellow card and Jhonny Arteaga had Brock Duckworth guessing the wrong way when he tucked it away to the right corner.

A few minutes later the New York had a chance to equalize when the ball was bouncing around near the Hammerheads 6-yard box, but no one could finish it off.  The ball was eventually cleared away and led to a fastbreak opportunity for the league leader in goals. Mullholland netted his second goal of the game and put Wilmington in a great position with less than 30 minutes to go.

The team had two goals called back, one for offsides and one for a handball by Andres Cuero(shown below), which could've easily made the final score 5-1.  Coach Irving used five subs in the second half, trying to rest some of the guys for their upcoming game vs. Harrisburg City Islanders.

Wilmington now sits on 36 points (11-6-3), moving into second place in the American Division. They play tonight at 7pm at Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Tanner Wolfe Nets His First Professional Goal as the Hammerheads get some Revenge on Charlotte (Video)

Just days after Richard Jata scored his first professional goal on a through ball from best friend Tanner Wolfe, the first year pro got a taste of glory for himself. The Hammerheads struggled to get on the board Friday night in Charlotte, suffering a 1-0 defeat to their interstate/division rivals.  After getting back to Wilmington early Saturday morning, the Hammerheads bounced back by putting in 3 goals and giving up none, even after being out-shot 11-10.

Tanner Wolfe was inserted into the starting lineup on Saturday night and made Coach Irving look like a genius.  Already with a 2-0 lead going into halftime, the Hammerheads showed no signs of letting up early into the second half.  After a shot from midfielder Luke Mulholland in the 47th minute ricocheted off the crossbar, Wolfe's reaction sent his body into flight.  He left his feet and connected on a diving header, beating the outstretched arms of the Charlotte goalkeeper who left his feet as well while attempting to make the save.

The goal was Tanner's first of his professional career and you could see the joy in his eyes while being congratulated by his teammates.  The link below has a great shot of the goal and celebration, plus a post-game interview with the man himself.

- Check out the Coaches Corner - Part 2 on wway3tv.com by clicking on the link below. There you can see 2 of the goals from Saturday nights' match vs Charlotte, plus some post game interviews with Tanner Wolfe and Head Coach David Irving.

*** Video Highlights from the Hammerheads Win over Charlotte ***

The Wilmington Hammerheads have now received goals from 14 different players this season.  That amount of depth and confidence from the players will really help them going into the final stretch of the season. Their recent win over Charlotte also put them into a tie for 2nd place in the American Division with the Richmond Kickers. Both teams now sit at 10-6-3 and 33 points through 19 games.

New York Update: Yesterday a few of the guys took the train into Manhattan and I got to know them a little better.  Some of them had never been to the "city that never sleeps" so it was cool to see their reactions in the ever so entertaining and energetic environment.  I'll be at the game tonight to support the team and take some pics so check back in on Saturday for a full post game write-up along with pics....and possible some video. Go Hammerheads!

Richard Jata Scores His First Professional Goal as the Hammerheads Manhandle City Islanders 3-1 (Video)

The Wilmington Hammerheads bounced back in a big way Saturday after suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Charleston Battery a few days earlier at Blackbaud Stadium.  On Thursday night the visiting Hammerheads were up 1-0 in the second half, only to see the Battery come back and score two big goals en route to a 2-1 victory over their division rivals.

On Saturday night the Hammerheads had a little comeback victory of their own.  Harrisburg City Islanders came into Legion Stadium and found themselves leading 1-0 going into halftime.  The Hammerheads have a great record at home and let Harrisburg know rather quickly that they wouldn't be going down without a fight.

Andres Cuero started the rally, netting a goal in the 65th minute to tie it up 1-1.  Andryi Budnyy found Luke Mulholland in the 76th minute for his second assist of the night and Mulholland's team leading 6th goal of the season, giving the Hammerheads an outright lead with less than 15 minutes to go.  In the 85th minute, Richard Jata finally put and end to his cold streak, scoring his first goal of the season and the first of his professional career on a brilliant finish.  Jata received a pass from his best friend and high school teammate Tanner Wolfe that sprung him through to face the keeper one on one.  Jata kept his composure and chipped the keeper to give the Hammerheads a 3-1 with less than 5 minutes left in the game.  Jata's signature celebration(round off to back flip) followed shortly after as the crowd erupted in jubilation. Read about Jata's reaction to the goal and post-goal flip here.

- Check out the Coaches Corner - Part 3 on wway3tv.com by clicking on the link below. There you can see all 3 goals from Saturday nights' match vs Harrisburg, plus some post game interviews with Brock Duckworth, Richard Jata, Luke Mullholland and Coach David Irving.

*** Video Highlights from the Hammerheads Win over Harrisburg ***

To view the 160+ pics from Saturday's game click here.

Highlights from Tuesday's US Open Cup match vs. RSL

The video below has no sound, but you can only imagine the 7,000 plus fans cheering on every opportunity Real Salt Lake had Tuesday night.  Chances were limited for the Wilmington Hammerheads, which most people knew would happen in advance, but RSL dominated play for nearly the entire game. While listening to the broadcasters commentate the game via radio, it became obvious to me that the game could've gotten way out of hand, easily ending 4 or 5 to nil.

Richard Jata and Tony Beltran battle for the ball in Tuesday's Match

I don't know whether or not Wilmington expected to have more chances or if they thought they could manage the wave of attacks mounted by RSL, but you can see from the highlights that they gave them too much too often.  The Hammerheads are good going forward in the midfield, but they lack the cohesion and discipline to get back and play defense for a full 90 minutes. Defending counter-attacks and constant pressure on the opposing squads midfield is essential when playing at a higher level.  I guess you can put most of the blame on Wilmington's lack of fitness. Since watching and covering both the USL PRO and MLS, it's easy to see the differences that make up the distance between these divisions. The one thing that stands out to me the most is fitness, in that MLS teams are constantly training to get more fit, while USL PRO teams train just to stay fit.

Hopefully things will change in the coming months and the Hammerheads strive to be that team who runs circles around their opponents. Otherwise, a chance at a USL PRO Championship seems highly unlikely, at least to me.  There are two things, besides skill and cohesion, that turn good teams into championship contending teams, one is determination and the other is fitness.

Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Real Salt Lake Preview

Over the past few week the Hammerheads have struggled to find their rhythm. Today they are on the way to Utah in preparation for tomorrow's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup matchup against a very strong opponent, Real Salt Lake. The altitude could have the most significant impact on the Hammerheads because I'm not expecting a huge turnout from the fans.  You'll likely see only certain sections open up to the public which should help the Hammerheads feel more comfortable than a normal MLS opponent.

Real Salt Lake are a team with a load of talent and a great coach to go along with them in Jason Kreis. He was a dominant player in MLS for years and now he's starting to prove his talents as one of the best up and coming coaches in the league. Jamison Olave was recently named Defender of the Year and numerous players just spent time with their respective national teams.  Alvaro Saborio plays for Costa Rica, Alturo Alvarez plays for Honduras, Will Johnson plays for Canada and GK Nick Rimando was third on the depth chart for USA. All three field players saw significant time with their respective national teams.

Opta and MLS have been working together to give the fans more in-depth analysis on how every player contributes during each game.  Take a look at the link below and play around with the chalkboard program.  Each player has a heat map graphic that shows their activity on the field throughout the game.  You can breakdown a single player, multiple players, or the entire teams output into 7 categories; distribution, shots, set-pieces, defense, ball possession, fouls and goalkeeping.  These 7 categories can then be broken down individually by the separate actions that make up each category. For example, the distribution category is made up of successful passes, unsuccessful passes, through balls, flick-ons, lay-offs, headers, crosses....and the list goes on and on. It's extremely rare that you get to see so much information for free and it's something that can help a lot of teams study their future opponents.

MLS Chalkboard - Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC

Real Salt Lake players discuss the upcoming US Open Cup game


BREAKING DOWN REAL SALT LAKE...

I've been analyzing RSL for the entire season thus far and its safe to say that they work extremely well together both on and off the ball. Kyle Beckerman is their captain and their rock.  He's good with the ball at his feet and is very consistent when it comes to his pass completion rate.  Jamison Olave is a physical beast at defense and Nick Rimando is arguably the #1 goalkeeper in all of Major League Soccer at the moment. They like to maintain possession and push the attack slowly througout the game, unless of course they're down, then they really pour it on. Now lets break them down by position.

CENTER MIDFIELDERS

I don't see RSL coming out with their regular lineup after playing two games in the 4 days.  However, they're coming off a strong 3-1 win in which Beckerman contributed on all three goals.  He is a workhorse so I expect him to start almost every game no matter what.With Beckerman occupying the holding midfield position in a diamond formation, Collen Warner or Andy Williams will most likely get the start at the attacking center mid position. Williams is a deadly set-piece specialist so beware for him to shoot anytime there's a free kick within distance. The Hammerheads should be physical with RSL as a whole, but especially with their central midfielders.

Javier Morales, likely the teams best player and early MLS MVP favorite is still out after breaking his ankle in a match earlier this year.  He was a significant player in the teams success during the beginning of the season and he has been hugely missed since going down.

OUTSIDE MIDFIELDERS

Ned Grabavoy and Will Johnson usually run the outside midfield positions, but since the loss of Javier Morales to injury early in the season, Grabavoy and Johnson have both spent time in the center of the pitch.  Johnson is more of a holding/roaming mid and his freedom allows him to push up the field or receive the ball deep and pick out the forwards making runs.  Grabavoy is a workhorse as well and is more likely to make those overlapping runs than Johnson.  Expect them to switch sides throughout the game and creep into the center of the field more frequently than not. Beckerman and Johnson take most set-pieces from midfield going forward, but Johnson can shoot from distance so the Hammerheads would be wise not to give him much space when he has the ball.

Luis Gil, a 17 year old U-20 USA National team product has had quite a bit of playing time lately so if he's on the field come kickoff time the Hammerheads should put relentless pressure on him. Gil is the most inexperienced player on their team, so it would be beneficial to make him as uncomfortable as possible.   He normally plays in the midfield, but started at forward last week because injuries have really limited RSL's attacking options on the depth chart. 

FORWARDS

Fabian Espindola was injured this past weekend so expect him to miss Tuesday's game.  Alvaro Saborio and Arturo Alvarez are both back after spending time with their National team for the 2011 Gold Cup and Saborio had a strong showing this weekend, netting two goals in his return to Real Salt Lake. RSL is short on strikers now so expect Saborio and Alvarez to get some playing time on Tuesday if they're healthy. Another player that has seen quite a bit of playing time at forward this year is Jean Alexandre. Jean is a big physical presence and was drafted by RSL in the first round(12th overall) of the 2009 MLS Superdraft. He is strong on the ball, with quick feet and a powerful shot to say the least. If he's match fit expect a lot out of him in the attacking third of the field.

Richard Jata and Jean were two of the nine rookies showcased in the 2009 series, Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick, along with a few other up and coming MLS players in Steve Zakuani, AJ Delegarza and Chris Pontius.

OUTSIDE DEFENDERS

Just like any pro team, expect these outside defenders to make deep overlapping runs and carry the ball all the way up the field.  Chris Wingert is primarily the starting left back, but Tony Beltran has also spent time their this season. They're both predominantly left-footed, but Beltran can also play on the right.  Robbie Russell shares starts with Beltran at right back and is the most physical of the three.  These defenders can dive in too early at times, leading to deep free kicks for opposing teams.

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers are the starting central defenders for RSL, but it's quite possible the Hammerheads will see Chris Schuler and Rauwshan McKenzie. All of these players are big, tall and aggressive.  They're deadly in the air and should be tightly marked on set-pieces and corner kicks. At defense, these players don't have exceptional speed so they can be beat on through balls.  If they play their back line high enough, the Hammerheads should focus on some good of-the-ball runs that put players in a one-v-one with the keeper. Don't expect much success from corners and crosses as RSL is one of the best defensive teams in the league. They aren't lazy when it comes to clearing the ball out of their own 18 and they mark up really well when it comes set-pieces and corner kicks. I think the key to getting past RSL is to play as quick as possible, leaving them as little time as possible to set up their defense.

KEYS TO SUCCESS...

If Wilmington wants to win this game they have to play a smart, physical and high intensity game.  They cannot give RSL any free space to create opportunities which means every player has to have each others' back throughout the ENTIRE game. I'm expecting a lot of possession and pinpoint distribution from RSL, so the Hammerheads should have their attacking core pressing at all times. You do not want to give their midfielders any extra time on the ball. I would also avoid playing to high of a line in the back because their experience and accuracy will cause problems for the Hammerheads defense.

As far as the attack goes for the Hammerheads, test the keeper as much as possible.  Corners and free kicks lobbed into the box are likely to be weeded out.  Wilmington should take their chances on shots outside the box from the 20-35 yard range.  If Rimando is in goal, he will be hard to beat no matter what, but the Hammerheads have players who can strike the ball from distance and that's when things can happen. Parried saves and shots off the post/crossbar should be pounced on immediately. If we can get an attacker or two close to goal during these opportunities, I think they'll have a chance to put in a loose ball or rebound. The likelihood of scoring on one of the best defenses in all of MLS is slim, so Wilmington need to make every opportunity count if they want to come out victorious.

For ticket information and another preview of Tuesday night's game check out this link.

Hammerheads Grab Crucial Points In Each Road Match

The Wilmington Hammerheads had success in both of their road games this past weekend.  Friday night's game had some late drama due to the harsh weather conditions. The referee stopped played in the 79th minute and called the game shortly after.  Unfortunately for Wilmington they gave up an equalizer just after they took the lead early in the second half. Still, managing to grab a point in Rochester with some many things not going your way, is a great achievement.

Saturday night the Hammerheads faced off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in another rematch from earlier in the season.  Both teams were limited to just a few chances on goal and neither were able to capitalize.  The game ended in a scoreless draw and Wilmington headed home for some much needed rest before their next match against Orland City(7-1-2).

Orlando City has kept a somewhat low profile this season, but just recently leapfrogged the Richmond Kickers(6-2-2) to grab the #1 spot in the American Division.  The Hammerheads are facing stiff competition week in and week out, but their home field has proved to be a significant factor thus far in the season.  The game coming up against Orlando City will take place on Saturday, June 4th at Legion Stadium so come out and show your support.

In a side note, Ivan Becerra was recently named to the USL PRO Team of the Week for his efforts in the two road ties this past weekend. He's been both a goal scorer and shut down defender so far this season. His leadership has proved to be very influential in the teams success to date.

Richard Jata is still nursing a shin/knee contusion, but it's quite possible he could return to action in the teams next match against Orland City.

Wolfe Shines In Professional Debut - Hammerheads win 3-0

The Wilmington Hammerheads notched another win this weekend moving them into 4th place in the American Division.  The Charleston Battery were outmatched for most of the game, but managed to keep the game close until Battery defender and captain John Wilson received a straight red card. Luke Mulholland netted his 2nd goal of the season in the 27th minute and when the Battery were reduced to ten men, he struck again, netting his 2nd goal of the night and 3rd of the season in the 85th minute.

A crowd of over 4,700 came out for the interstate rivalry and they made their presence felt.  In the 90th minute, Hakop Aveyson put the nail in the cofen off an assist from Tanner Wolfe. Wolfe got his first minutes ever as a professional, when he was subbed on right around the 86th minute mark.  It's been a long time coming for Tanner Wolfe and Richard Jata, who both starred as high school seniors on the same varsity team.Both had very successful college careers for their respective squads and it's great to see them playing alongside each other at the professional level.

Current USL PRO Power Rankings - Hammerheads On The Rise!!

Injury & Weekend Update: Jata received some treatment on his leg today so hopefully he can rebound in time for the teams double header next weekend.  The Hammerheads will take on the Rochester Rhinos Friday night and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night. Both teams will be out for revenge after losing earlier in the year at Legion Stadium in Wilmington,NC.  Hopefully the games will be shown on usllive.com, so have a look as the weekend draws near.

Hammerheads vs. Battery - Official Match Recap (Star News Online)

Post Game Notes & Highlights - Hammerheads Blog

For another recap of Saturday night's game against the Charleston Battery and quotes from the players and coaches, check out the official Hammerheads Blog by Tom Grady of the Star News.

Revamped Divisons Make For A Tough Road Ahead

With the removal of three teams from USL PRO, the International Division has been removed.  Since Antigua Barracuda FC(6-4-0) and the Los Angeles Blues(4-2-2) have been moved to another division, in order to fix the fixture layout, the American Division just got even tougher.  With a 6-4-0 record Antigua jump straight into second place, right behind the still undefeated Richmond Kickers.

The Wilmington Hammerheads currently sit in 5th place of the American Division, but they've only played four games.   Their record is 3-1-0 and they are averaging 2.0 goals per game, while only giving up 1.0 goals per game. The Hammerheads and Harrisburg City Islanders have played the least amount of games so far.  Antigua Barracuda has played ten games and 3 other teams have played eight.

If the Hammerheads are victorious today over the always talented Charleston Battery, they will jump ahead of them into fourth place of the ever so competitive American Division.

Injury Update
Chris Spendlove - Doubtful
Jamie Scope - Doubtful
Richard Jata - Questionable

Jata has been out for the last two weeks with a shin/knee contusion.  The extent of the injury is uncertain at this point, but while practicing a bit here and there, he has struggled to get back to 100 percent. I'm fairly confident Jata will sit out again for today's match and not sure at what point in the season he'll make his return.

Key Additions
With Jata sitting out the last two weeks, Chris Banks has stepped up to give the Hammerheads an extra attacking weapon. He notched two goals in last weeks' win and I'm looking for him to step it up again to help keep their undefeated streak at home alive.

Hammerheads Blog - Quotes, Divisional Format, Upcoming Schedule and the Southern Derby Cup

Watch The Game Again Thanks To usllive.com

Usllive.com gives you the option to watch the Hammerheads vs. Riverhounds game from last Friday free of charge. If you weren't able to catch the game in person or online, or you just want to see the last few minutes again, check out the video below. For goal times and a write-up of the game see my post from April 29th.

Jata Says F50's Work Great On The New Turf (Videos)

Since the brand-new artificial turf was laid down at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, NC, the Hammerheads are undefeated at home. However, some of the players have decided to go with a different boot because the surface presents various challenges when striking the ball.  Soreness in the bones and muscles are also a concern due to the rigidity of the field. It's a comfort thing, so those with more experience playing on fake grass might not be affected as much.


For more on this video, along with quotes from Head Coach David Irving and forward Alex Grendi, check out this article by Tom Grady of the Star News. He write the Hammerheads Blog as well.

The main difference between a normal boot and one that's made for artificial turf is the length of the cleats. Shorter cleats help with both the plant foot and the foot striking the ball.  The plant foot tends to get stuck in the surface with longer cleats so this can be essential for corner kicks and set-piece specialists. The length of the cleat also helps the player get under the ball and control the lift. Another major difference between the F50 Aidzero and other cleats is the lightweight design.  The F50's are only 5.6 ounces, making them one of the lightest boots on the planet.  Imagine what a lighter boots does to help a player on the field. The less weight you have on your foot should make for a quicker and more powerful strike.  Chasing opponents down and off the ball runs should improve as well.

Arguably the best soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi, has chosen to play with the F50 Adizero cleats and it looks like they're working out just great for him. He is the quickest and most controlled dribbler I've ever seen. Honestly, he'd be great playing in any cleat, but I'm sure he chose the F50's for a reason. I've heard that they actually help the ball stick to the cleat, allowing for better overall control when dribbling. Messi keeps the ball so close to his body making defenders look silly when they try to swipe at it. Will the F50's help Richard Jata do the same? We'll see, he sure looked quick last game.

Two Late Goals Propel Hammerheads Past Riverhounds 3-1

In the first half of the match on Friday night the Wilmington Hammerheads dominated possession, but failed to find the back of the net. Their best opportunity came from a nice flick-on by Andres Cuero that left Richard Jata open for goal, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds remained on the defensive side of the ball for the most of the half and came away with little success at all going forward.

In the second half, the Hammerheads stepped it up a notch and found themselves attacking the Riverhounds rather easily once again.  Just like their first match, the Hammerheads came away with an early goal in the second half by Andriy Budnyy on a nice pass from Luke Mulholland. The goal came in the 56th minute and from then on the game really opened up.

Richard Jata was subbed out for Alex Grendi around the 65th minute and 15 minutes later the Riverhounds got their equalizer.  Wilmington was clearly dominating the possession battle up until this point, but after a great cross and header combination in the 79th minute, the game was tied 1-1.

Justin Evans, Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, fed up for most of the game, was cautioned in the 82nd minute after the Riverhounds were whistled for a foul at midfield. The following free kick was sent into the box, but a failed clearance by the Riverhounds found the foot of Paul Nicholson just outside the box on the right side. He took a few dribbles and blasted a shot to the near post low and hard for what would prove to be the game-winner. At this point it put the Hammerheads back up 2-1, but there was still some more action left to be seen.

In the 92nd minute the Riverhounds goalkeeper came all the way up for a corner kick, but a quickly cleared ball by the Hammerheads fell right to Chris Banks who took the ball up-field in a hurry.  He had an open teammate near midfield with a sure chance of putting a shot on goal. Unfortunately an unsuccessful touch gave the ball right back to the Riverhounds, without any shot attempt on goal.

Not even a minute later the Hammerheads put the nail in the coffin.  After a couple consecutive shot attempts by Jyler Noviello, one off the post, an unmarked Alex Grendi tapped in a free ball near the 6 yard box to get his first goal of the season. The Wilmington Hammerheads remain undefeated for the season, and at home(2-0), but the true test will come next weekend when they travel to Virginia to face a deadly Kickers squad. Attendance for today's game was just under 3,000.

Scoring Summary

WLM: Andriy Budnyy (Luke Mulholland) 56'

PITT: Jeremy Deighton 79'

WLM: Paul Nicholson 83'

WLM: Alex Grendi 93'

Cautions

PITT: Kyle Veris 84'

The next game is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th against the Richmond Kickers, with kickoff set for 7pm. The winner of this game will be the only remaining undefeated team within the American Division, unless the Kickers lose tomorrow night against the Dayton Dutch Lions. It should be a great game regardless, with the winner of the match coming away as the only undefeated team in the entire league besides the Los Angeles Blues.

Anaylsis: In-Depth Look At Game 1 (Video & Key Events)

The Hammerheads had a significant amount of rest between their first and second games, so I can only expect a well-rested and well-prepared team come Friday night.  I just finished watching the game again on usllive.com and there were many things to take away from their performance.

The midfielders and forwards were always moving around, making it very hard for the defense to keep track of them. Our defense remained calm on the ball for the most part and the team really controlled the entire first half without much attack from the Rhinos.  The mids and forwards put constant pressure on the Rhinos back line even when they weren't in possession of the ball, forcing the Rhinos into several turnovers and giveaways.

ANALYSIS ON THE PLAYERS:

Paul Nicholson distributed the ball well, while maintaining the defensive midfielder role for most of the game. Luke Mulholland and Richard Jata looked solid offensively, creating opportunities when they had the ball deep in the oppositions half. Gareth Evans likes to stretch the field with the long ball.  Dylan Riley got forward and made good overlapping runs from time to time. Chirs Spendlove played a full 90 minutes at left back and had a strong showing. Ivan Becerra consistently switched the field and seemed very confident running the back line. Andriy Budnyy struggled to get anything going in the first half, but had a good individual scoring opportunity in the 25th minute and contributed to goal that was eventually called back early in the second half. Manny Guzman and Andres Cuero were quiet offensively, but helped force the Rhinos into committing several mistakes. Brock Duckworth wasn't tested much at all in the first half, but came up big in the second half to preserve the shutout. Alex Grendi looked sharp offensively in the second half and helped create some good scoring opportunities.

I've posted the full game below along with key events and the times in which they occurred.

Key Events - Shots, Saves, Fouls, Cards, Tackles, Free Kicks, Missed Chances, etc.

6:45 - Corner Kick by Richard Jata, Header Shot by Chris Spendlove (Saved by GK)

23:45 - 6 Consecutive passes leading up to an Andres Cuero Shot (Saved by GK) - Excellent long ball by Ivan Becerra opened up the field and allowed the players to get some free space

24:38 - Blocked pass by Andriy Budnyy and a follow-up pass by Cuero sprung Budnyy for a 22-yard shot from the left side that just misses the near post - (low, strong)

32:50 - Foul suffered by Luke Mulholland leading to Free Kick taken by Richard Jata from 30 yards out. Shot sails just wide of the far post - (low, one bounce)

36:40 - Throw-in by Dylan Riley ends up finding the foot of Paul Nicholson, who eventually feeds Richard Jata at the top of the box. Jata cuts back and shoots a bending left-footed Shot to the far post. GK makes a diving save to keep the Hammerheads off the board

41:45 - Dangerous Corner Kick by the Rochester Rhinos eventually cleared away

HALFTIME SUBS: Alex Grendi(IN) - Manny Guzman(OUT)

1:08:45 - Rochester Rhinos Shot On Goal - Great Cross, Weak Header

1:11:10 - Header Clearance by Ivan Becerra, Cleared again by Alex Grendi springs Andriy Budnyy on a nice run up the field. A quick one-two then springs Grendi into the box. His low cross is played perfectly to Luke Mulholland, but Cuero gets in the way of the shot and it hits off his back. Mulholland finishes the ball into the back of the net, but the linesman calls offsides on Cuero. Goal Nullified.

1:12:30 - GOAL - Cross by Dylan Riley just misses the head of Budnyy. Mulholland slides and gathers the ball before the Rochester keep can get to it. Gets up all in one motion and finishes the ball into the back of the net with a strong finish(High, Center). Awesome Celebration!

1:16:15 - CARD - Yellow Card issued to Paul Nicholson for Hard Foul from behind. Smart Foul because it could've led to a goal-scoring opportunity for the Rhinos.

1:23:50 - Shot Attempt near the penalty marker. Big chance and good scoring opportunity for the Rhinos. Shot Saved by Brock Duckworth.

1:44:10 - Dangerous cross sent in from the right side, cleared away nicely by Ivan Becerra

1:51:15 - Another dangerous cross sent in finds the head of a Rochester player just inside the 6-yard box, but Brock Duckworth is there to make a great diving save.

1:52:15 - Hard Shot from the top of the box is saved by Rochester GK (Near post, High)

1:55:10 - Cross sent in finds an open Rochester player who misses wide. Game Over!

Video Highlights From Hammerheads 2011 Season Opener

If you missed The Wilmington Hammerheads first game of the 2011 USL PRO season this past Sunday, here are some of highlights.  There's a couple good scoring chances for the Hammerheads - one by Richard Jata - before the goal by Luke Mulholland.  I missed a couple key saves made by Brock Duckworth in the closing minutes, but they have that on tape as well. Check it out below!

Local Wilmington blogger, Tom Grady, has started a new series called "Hammerheads Notebook". It contains in-depth interviews with various players from the team. In his first exclusive he talks with starting forward, Richard Jata.



The Hammerheads next game is at home(Legion Stadium) on April 29th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm!

Hammerheads Victorious In Season Opener 1-0

When I found out that the season opener for the Hammerheads was pushed back until 2pm on Sunday I was stoked.  Unfortunately, I would've missed the whole game had it been at it's original time, but as it turned out, I got to see nearly 80 minutes of uninterrupted play thanks to usllive.com. The starting lineup was very similar to the one I posted in my previous article and things seemed to work pretty well for the most part.

Richard was battling a bad cold, but managed to get an extra half-day of rest with the postponement, proving most helpful when it came to gametime.  He had a strong showing with several forced turnovers, a couple good corner kicks, a very close free kick from the left side just outside the box and a left-footed shot from the top of the 18, in which the GK made a diving save to prevent a sure goal.

I was genuinely impressed with the cohesion of the entire team, especially with their composure at the back.  It seemed like the defenders were very confident on the ball and unafraid to make a move and carry the ball forward before dishing it off to the mids/forwards.  The defense took normal launches/clearances and distributed them nicely, avoiding a kickball mentality that a lot of teams resort to when being pressured.  In the first half, I wouldn't be surprised if the possession battle was 65% - 35% in our favor. The back line was superb!

In the first half our offense was just as effective.  Off the ball mids and forwards pressured the Rhinos into making several bad passes and numerous turnovers.  The entire midfield, led by Luke Mulholland, got down and dirty without hesitation.  The Hammerheads committed a few fouls, but overall their tackling was on point.  When the second half came around, I knew we were going to get a goal....it was simply just a matter of time!

After Wilmington's first goal was waved off for offsides in the 51st minute, Luke Mulholland made an all-out dash, beating the Rhinos keeper to a ball coming from right to left across the front of the goal.  When Luke slid he was near the corner of the six-yard box going away from goal.  He gathered the ball and retained possession all in one swoop right before the diving keeper could get his hands around it.  I was simply amazed that he came up with the ball so cleanly. Luke got up and took a touch before finishing the ball with ease for the first Hammerheads goal of the season! Right after the goal, a fantastic celebration followed! Mulholland ran towards the corner flag near the Home crowd side and took out the corner flag with a flying double leg kick! It was Awesome!! Shortly after that the rest of the team piled on him, making it an incredible moment for all Hammerheads fans!

Richard was subbed out in the 77th minute and shortly after that the Rhinos had a crack at goal.  Brock Duckworth remained strong in net and helped keep the clean sheet for the Hammerheads.  The 1-0 victory is a great way to start the 2011 season, especially in front of the home crowd!

Complete Stats - Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Rochester Rhinos (4/17)

The Hammerheads next game is on April 29th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.  Kickoff is set for 7:30pm at Legion Stadium.  Come out and support the team!

For more news on today's game including quotes from the players and Head Coach David Irving check out Tom Grady's (of the Star News in Wilmington) blog!

2011 USL PRO Season - Wilmington vs. Rochester Pregame

On the eve of the Wilmington Hammerheads first game since being dropped from the league, a lot has to be on the mind of both the players and Head Coach David Irving.  Ivan Becerra and Paul Nicholson have been named team captains for the 2011 season and Nicholson had some great things to say about the mindset of the team going into their first game - you can here more from Becerra and Coach Irving here.

4/16 - Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Rochester Rhinos - 7pm @ Legion Stadium

Tickets: $10 of adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and $6 for children

Watch the game free online at www.usllive.com

Want to meet the players, but don't have time to check out a game yet. Take a look at the finalized roster along with player bios and pics below. The Hammerheads organization looked at hundreds of trialists and feel like the squad they have, even though they're young, are quite ambitious and talented enough to compete with the best in the league.

2011 Wilmington Hammerheads - Player List and Bios

Expect Head Coach David Irving to implement a 4-3-3 lineup which he's used quite frequently in the preseason. After the recent signings and final preseason match against Hurricanes FC I've come up with a lineup I think we could see tomorrow night, with a few minor tweaks here and there. Obviously Jyler Noviello had an impressive preseason so if he's healthy you might see him inserted somewhere at the attacking end.  Luke Mulholland has a cast on his right hand so if he's cleared to play expect to see him on the field, but if he's not, you might see Richard drop back into a central midfield role where's he's played most of his career. I think GK Kyle Pollack will miss the first game so look for Brock Duckworth to get the start in goal. Other notable players that will probably see some playing time are: Alex Grendi, Tanner Wolfe, Tom Taylor and Chris Banks.

F - Andres Cuero (10)   F - Andriy Budnyy (11)   F - Richard Jata (9)

M - Manny Guzman (6)   M - Paul Nicholson (19)   M - Luke Mulholland (8)

D - Chris Spendlove (3)   D - Ivan Becerra (5)   D - Gareth Evans (23)   D - Dylan Riley (17)

GK - Brock Duckworth

The whole organization is looking forward to an exciting and successful season.  With the brand-new turf field recently installed at Legion Stadium and a lengthy selection process of developing a solid squad, I'm expecting good things to come for the city of Wilmington. I hear that the anticipation for tomorrow's match is quite high and emotions from fans, players, coaches and owners should make for a very entertaining environment.  I really wish I could be there to see it all transpire, but I can't, so I have some friends checking it out for me.  Hopefully I'll have some great pics(possibly some video clips) to share with you on Sunday or early next week sometime.  From what I understand there's a special treat planned for the fans who attend tomorrow night's game.